Apparatus for storing and feeding hydrocarbon liquids.



J. B. EVANS.

APPARATUS PoR sToRING AND PBEDING HYDROGARAON LQUIDs. APPLICATION FILED 0GT.2,1907.

916,130, I Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

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A TTOHNEYS JOSEPH B. EVANS, OF SELMA, ALABAMA.

APPARATUS FOR STORING `AND FEEDING HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1907.

Patented March 23, ieee.

Serial No. 395,496.

. To all whom 'it 'may concern:

`Be it known that l, Josnrn B. EVANS, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Selma, in the county of Dallas and State ol` Alabama, have invented a new and Imiroved Aiparatus for Storing and Feeding lydrocar on Liquids, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention is an iin )roved apparatus for storing and feeding hvdrocarbon liquids,

`especiallv such volati e liquids as gasolene used as the motive agent in internal combustion engines.

The apparatus is primarily designed to be used 1n motor boats, 1n which connection it tis desirable that the supply tank at all times remain full, not only by reason of the fact that a free surface of gasolene or the like is conducive of evaporation, but also that the danger of explosion is augmented by the (-.oniined was; the evaporation of this gas being facilitated in a rough sea b v thc sloshing of the .liquid in the unfilled tank. By my invention theV loss by evaporation is not appreciable and the danger of explosion materially lessened, also such water as the gasolene contains when intrmiuced in the tank is separated therefrom.

`Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication, 1n which slnnlar characters of reference .-.1nd1cate corresponding parts 1n both views.

Figure 1 is. a diagrammatic view partly in section, illustrating the preferred form of the invention; and` Fig. 2 is a view partly in section, illustrating fa modified feature of the invention.

The internal combustion engine which is used for driving the boat also drives a force pump 5, the said ump being connected with a pipe 6 leading rom the sea and discharging through a pipe 7 into a water pressure tank 8, the usual check valves 9 being provided in the length of the pipes 6 and 7 at the opposite sides of the pump. The pipes 6 and 7 are also provided with three-way valves 10 and 11, respectively the Valve 10 connecting With a pipe 12 4passing to and connecting at the bottom of a fuel sup ly tank `13, and the valve 11 connecting Witli a discharge pipe 14 leading to the sea.

The water pressure tank 8 discharges through a pipe 1.5 vand thence into the supply tank through a portion of tl1e.pipe 12, the connection between these pipes being effected by a three-way controlling valve 16, that When t and confined over its seat by any suitablecage 19. This ball is of such specific gravity as to float in water, but readily sink and be seated in such hydrocarbon liquids as gasolene. Adiseliarge pipe 20 having a valve 20a connects with the supply tank through a valve-casing 2 1, and leads to a small auxiliary tank 22, 'the latter being provided with a discharge pipe 23 leading to the engine, and having a controlling valve 2&1. The auxiliary tank'is also provided With a iioat gage 25 indicating the level of the fue] supply therein. The stem of this gage iits its bearing in the top of the tank with suilicient play to allow the tank proper vent and at the salue time prevent undue friction.

The valve casing 21 carries a valve for automatically governing the iiow through the discharge pipe, which comprises a valve head 26 having a stem 27 retained in an upright position by suitable guides, and a float 28 secured to the stom, of such specific gravity as to drop with the valve in a liquid such as gasolene but buoyantly force the valve head 26 to its seat and-thus cut oil` the discharge when submerged in water.

The supply tank 13 hasthe usual iilling plug or ipe 29 normally covered by a cap 30.

liis cap ist: removed the coupling of the gasolene hose may be threaded directly to the pipe 29 as indicated in dotted outline. With the three-Way valve 16 in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valve 17 open, the gasolene is admitted to the auxiliary tank by opening the valve 20a; this passage of the gasolene being caused by the gravit pressure of the Water in the tank 8, the sai Water, as the gasolene iiows to the auxiliary tank, being introduced into the supply tank, thus keeping the latter at all times filled. After repeated fillings of the auxiliary tank sufcient to exhaust the gasolene from the supply tank, the Water level in the latter rises to the iioat 28, raising the same and seatin the valve, thus cutting off the discharge o the Water into the auxiliary tank. During this period the Water in the tank 8 is replenished as it .becog's exhausted by the operation of the pumpgfthe three-Way valves l0 and 12 at and 14 respectively.

On filling the Supply tank, 13 with fuel, a

, hose 'usually leading from the barrel of gasolene is attached to the pipe 2f) in the manner heretofore stated. The three-way valves 1() and 16 are then turned to connect the supply tank directly with the pump through the pipe 12, and the three-way valve 11 isturned to pass the water from the pump through the pipe 14 back to the sea, the valve 20a at this On now starting the pump 5 the water will be drawn from the Supply tank and the gasolene w1ll be sucked through the hose to'take its place until the level of the water passes to the ball-valve 18, when the latter will seat and prevent the passage of the gasolene' to the pum On now again shifting the three-way va ves to the position as illustrated 1n Fig. 1, the fuel may be forced from the supply tank into the auxiliary tank until exhausted. a

In the modification of my'lmprovement shown in Fig. 2, the construction is eSsen-.

tially the same, except in the matter ofthe pressure tank 8 which, instead of being located at a higher elevation than the supply tank and foreingthe Water therein under the 'action of gravity, is replaced by a tank Sa having an air chamber 8b, whereby the Water will be delivered to the supply tank by the pressure ofthe confined air.

' It is thus Seen that I have provided an apparatus which will atl all times maintain the Supply tank in a filled condition, obviating 'the loss of the fuel by evaporation and also to a considerable extent minimizing the danger of explosion. It will be further noted that by reason of drawing the fuel from the supply tank from its top, Such water as may be introduced with the gasolene through the' filling opening will drop to the water level and not pass to the engine arrangement.

Thev invention as shown while being the preferred construction and arrangement of my improved apparatus iS susceptible to modifications other than that illustrated,

as in the usual v this time being turned to blanket the pipes12 l and I consider I' am entitled to such chan es l as fall within the Scope of the 'appen ed claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an apparatus lof the character described, a supply tank adapted to contain a hydrocarbon liquid, a dischargepipe leading from the upper portion of said tank, a pump, a feed pipe leading to the pump, a water pressure tank, a supply pipe leading from the pump to the waterpressure tank, a discharge pipe connecting with said supply pipe, a pipe connecting the pump feed pipe with the lower portion of the supply tank, a discharge pipe leading from the water pressure tank and connecting with the last-named pipe', and three-way valves arranged at the connection of each pipe with another pipe, wherebythe water from the pump may be delivered to f the water pressure tank and thence to the supply tank, or may be pumped by the said pump from the supply tank through the lastnamed discharge pipe.

2. In an apparatus of the character de-y ,c

scribed, the combination of a su ply tank adapted to contain a hydrocarbon iquid and havmg a discharge at the upper portion thereof, a Water pressure tank, a pump, a feed pipe leading to the pump, a supply pipe lleading from the pump to the water pressure tank, a discharge pipe leading from the water pressure tank to the lower portion of the supply tank, and a pipe connecting the last mentioned pipe with the ump feed pipe and having valves for estab ishing communication between the supply tank and Said pump feed pipe, whereby the water may be pumpedl from the supply tank directly to the water'l pressure tan i.

In testimony whereof I have signed myv name to this specification in the presence of two Subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH B. EVANS. Witnesses HOLT, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

